Mothers support mum of injured baby

HELP WANTED: Sucharitta Milton, pictured here in 2010 with her dogs, says she was sent home in pain from Southland Hospital.

HELPING HAND: Mummies For Life support network chief executive and founder Zelda Edwards with her 1-week-old daughter, Ripley Kowhai Smith, wants to send a care package to the Milton family, of Invercargill.

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A support network of mothers plans to send a care package full of positive messages to the mother of injured 4-week-old Noklair Milton.

Mummies For Life support network chief executive and founder Zelda Edwards, who is based near Wellington, said she wanted to speak to the Invercargill family and identify their needs.

The Milton family had gone through a "very traumatic experience" and the group wanted to let them know they were there for them.

Ms Edwards, who has two children, said she started the support group for herself and friends, but 30 months later she had more than 1000 members throughout the country and other groups had been formed through it, including a postnatal depression group.

"With more than 1000 members we can help a lot of people."

Many members had suffered postnatal depression and knew the difficulties and challenges, she said.

Noklair's father, David Milton, said his wife Sucharitta went to Southland Hospital early on Sunday, September 1, in pain and after undergoing several tests was told she had postnatal depression and mastitis. She was sent home and told to see her GP on the Monday.

Noklair's throat was slashed early on the Monday morning.

Police said Mr and Mrs Milton and the baby were home when the baby was violently attacked and they were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

Ms Edwards said the support group wanted to send the care package to Sucharitta Milton and let her know she was not alone in terms of postnatal depression.

Mummies For Life was a support network which was not advertised - it was a secret society so it felt exclusive and all members were connected in some form, she said.

It was a 24/7 mum-to-mum advice network consisting of more than 1000 New Zealand mothers, including about 10 in Southland.

Ms Edwards said the group's focus was positive support for parenting and included a "cyber village of mothers" who talked online and by phone.

It was designed for mothers to get support whenever they needed it.

Mummies For Life is collating messages of love and support for the Milton family and would like to get as many as possible.